WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 February 1927, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE MILFORD MISHAP

TOURIST OFFICE INQUIRING

(Special to “ Guardian.”)

WELLINGTON, February S. The partial dislocation ol communication with .Milford Sound lias prevented the Tourist Department so far from obtaining full information concerning the mishap' which precluded a number ul Australian delegates to the -Medical ( onierencc from leaving their steamer at this historic scenic resort for tint purpose ol making their way overland to Dunedin. Alt inquiry at the Department’s office this afternoon brought an assurance that particulars of the unfortunate occurrence would lie available to-morrow or the following day and that meanwhile everything possible was being doTie to make amends to the disappointed visitors. The “Dominion” this morning, dealing with the .subject, thinks the time opportune to address a little homily on the virtue of patience to the commun ly at huge and to the tourist in particular. “ It: would lie a remarkable tiling indeed.” it says. “ il the traveller did not -experience occasional discomfort and disappointment. T lie wider his experience as a tourist the more critical he is likely to become. He is then in a position to compare the advantages of travel by rival steamship lines, the standards of various hotels, the comforts of differeni railway systems, and the methods of tourist agencies, IT lie is of a reasonable disposition, lie. will temper his criticism with tolerance, remembering always. Il lit- can, that, circumstances occasionally are beyond the control of human resources.” Probably the medical gentlemen who missed their trip across the Milford Track will find it a little il iHi - cult to assimilate this philosophy. Keeping faith.

In justice to the morning paper, however. it must lie said that it. oilers with its advice to the disappointed tourists a different suggestion to the responsible department. “Pending a full and satisfying explanation.” it observes. " it. must in the. meantime lie emphasised as strongly as possible that we must keep faith with the tourists. We are spending considerable sums in advertising our tourist attractions, and are constantly being urged to spend more. If we fail to live up to the expectations aroused, we might as well throw that money into the sea. It is only lair to recognise that in recent years our Tourist Department has great Iv- improved its organisation, and hits been rendering valuable service. It is the more regrettable on that account that we should have received such a had advertisement from our visiting doctors.” It, is to he hoped that a. full and satisfying explanation will be forthcoming; Inn in the meantime, as always is the case in such happenings, the gossips tire reviving all sorts of stories to the detriment of the dcpait ment, which i- in favour with lew of the ether State departments and frequently is at logger-heads with one private enterprise or another. As a matter of fact the department lias neeii doin'* very excellent work for many years and would have done much more but for the stringent restriction of its resources. UNFAIR LAY CRITICISM. With its customary judicial deliberation the “ Evening Post ” submits to the president of the Medical Conference now sitting in Dunedin some excuses for Bernard Shaw’s harsh criticism of the methods and manners of the members of his profession. It admits, of course, that the author of “The Doctor’s Dilemma ’’ is extravagant, and even disingencrous. in his deliini-ci.-ition of the profession, loit it ■_ests choc the doctors themselves are largely to blame for the avidity with which criticism is devoured. “ If the doctors themselves would deal more frankly with the public,” if says, “ the misrepresentations which they sometimes suffer would carry less weight. The ’ great trade union ’ view of the medical association has gained currency because' its works have come into the limelight mote upon some minor question of medical ethics, such as writing for the Press or collaborating with some member outside the association.” If tlie public heard less of this sort of thing and more of the great work the doctors are doing and the high standard of moral conduct they are maintaining. the better il would he, the

“ Post ’’ thinks, for the profession and for the community it serves. This is a view shared, it would seem, by most people who have given a thought to the subject. IMMIGRATION.

The discussion nt tin 1 mooting of the Alnuawatu executive of the Farmers' Union on the subject of immigration the other day tins revived in various quarters a familiar controversy here. The large employers of manual labour profess to have no sympathy with Lhe (lovernment’s policy of bringing people from the Home Country without first having ascertained the ability of the Dominion to absorb them and to keep tfirm in work. The smaller employers, speaking generally, take little personal interest in the matter, but rather incline to the idea that if anyone is out of work in New Zealand it is the limit of the Government or himself. They are by no means unanimous as to what the Government should do for immigrants. hut the majority of them lean towards closer laird settlement and more etxcnsive public work's, both oi which would involve increased public expenditure, which, at the moment, tin Government, is frankly discouraging. Labour, again, speaking generally. would have no objection even to the increase of immirgation provided adequate arangeinents for the maintenanee of the new arrivals were made without lessening the employment ol the workers already on the spot. Summed up all this seems to mean that neither the employe: nor chi' worker objects to the present rate if immigration, nor even to its "TOW til. so long as he is not pel'.soun 11 y prejudieod.